Tsvangirai sues Mphoko over Gukurahundi remarks

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai is suing former vice-president Phelekezela Mphoko for $2 million over his remarks that Tsvangirai played a part in the Gukurahundi massacres of the 198Os.

According to Newsday, Tsvangirai filed his papers on Monday.

“The claim arises from the publication of false, wrongful, defamatory and injurious statements that were spoken by the defendant against the plaintiff and subsequently flighted on ZBC-TV, published on online platforms and printed by various print media publications on February 4 and 5 and in the following days this year,” Tsvangirai is quoted as saying.

According to the summons, Mphoko said that Tsvangirai was involved in an assassination attempt on the late Vice-President Joshua Nkomo in Masvingo and the burning of villages in Tsholotsho.  He also alleged that Tsvangirai murdered a top police officer in Tsholotsho.

Tsvangirai said: “The defendant had no right to fabricate the false statements, which are defamatory and highly injurious allegations against the plaintiff. As a result of the subject’s defamation, the plaintiff’s reputation has been damaged and has suffered damages in total of $2 million,” he said.

Newsday said Mphoko’s lawyers from EN Mlotshwa and Company Legal Practitioners are yet to respond to the summons.

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